Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We should not even contemplate it. It cost ratepayers vast sums of money. They are taxpayers, the paying public. Businesses were closing left, right and centre because of the costly rates they were paying. We need to move away from that. There is a view within Government of the need to try to bring down the cost of rates to encourage people. This is a way of doing that and of making local government more effective for the people.